ATLANTA – At the beginning of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall delivers top auction highlights from around the United States and the world at large. Here’s his November 2021 edition of Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.
Lawton S. Parker oil painting, $36,000, Schwenke Auctioneers
An oil on canvas painting by Lawton Silas Parker, titled Silver Lake, sold for $36,000 at an Estates Auction held September 26 by Schwenke Auctioneers in Woodbury, Connecticut. Also, a pair of vintage leather fire helmets heated up the crowd for $6,985; a Steinway & Sons 1936 medium grand Model M piano gaveled for $8,800; a signed Daum Nancy green glass/gilt bottle earned $4,200; and a signed lithograph in colors by Zao Wou-Ki hit $4,500.
Large Chinese vase, $50,000, John Moran Auctioneers
A large Chinese silver and cloisonne enamel vase by Wang Hing, the late 19th- century silver export retailer based in Canton, China, sold for $50,000 at a Traditional Collector sale held September 28 by John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, California. Also, a Chinese silk and metal thread area rug with vivid blue accents achieved $15,000; a French gilt-bronze and marble mantel clock retailed by Tiffany & Co. earned $11,875; and an English marquetry buffet finished at $8,125.
John F. Kensett landscape, $1.08 million, Cottone Auctions
A sublime landscape painting by John Frederick Kensett, titled Singing Beach & Eagle Rock, Magnolia, Massachusetts, sold for $1.08 million at a Fine Art, Antiques and Clock auction held September 18 by Cottone Auctions in Geneseo, New York. Also, a Tiffany Studios elaborate Peony lamp on a telescopic library base with a 22-in shade lit up the room for $390,000; and an E. Howard & Co. No. 49 astronomical hanging regulator finished at $174,000.
Chinese theatrical diorama, $20,400, Michaan’s Auctions
A Chinese monumental theatrical diorama with kingfisher feather embellishment sold for $20,400 at Estates & Collections Auctions held September 17 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, California. Also, a rainy Paris street scene painting by Edouard Leon Cortes, titled Theatre Gymnastique, earned $30,000; and a 1988 nude rendering by Tom Wesselmann, titled Monica Lying on a Blanket, using enamel on laser cut steel, went to a determined bidder for $24,000.
Alfred J. Casson oil painting, CA$59,000, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.
A 1940 landscape painting by the Canadian Group of Seven artist Alfred Joseph Casson, titled Outside Algonquin Park, sold for $59,000 in an online-only Firearms, Sporting & Canadiana auction held October 9 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., based in New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada. Also, an oil on board 1966 countryscape by Group of Seven founding member Alexander Young Jackson hit $38,350. Prices are in Canadian dollars.
1790 tall case clock, $92,250, Pook & Pook, Inc.
A circa-1790 New York Federal mahogany musical tall case clock with eight-day works signed “Effingham Embree New York” sold for $92,250 at an Americana & International Sale held Sept. 30-Oct. 1 by Pook & Pook, Inc. in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Also, Mickey Mouse by Andy Warhol, from the artist’s 1981 Myths series hit $196,800, and a 1926 bronze fountain by Harriett Frishmuth, titled Crest of the Wave, rose to $147,600.
Munnings equestrian works, $662,500, Andrew Jones Auctions
A pair of paintings by the acclaimed British equestrian artist Sir Alfred James Munnings sold for a combined $662,500 in the online-only auction of the collection of Lady Victoria White held October 10 by Andrew Jones Auctions in Los Angeles. The Kilkenny Horse Fair soared to $500,000, while Making a Polo Ground at Princemere finished at $162,500. Also, a Chinese blue and white porcelain Transitional/Kangxi brush pot brought $40,000.
Johnny Ramone guitar, $937,500, RR Auction
The Mosrite Ventures II guitar played onstage by Johnny Ramone (real name: John Cummings), guitarist for the punk rock band the Ramones, sold for $937,500 in an online auction held by RR Auction, based in Boston. Johnny Ramone played the guitar in every performance of the band from 1977-1996 – nearly 2,000 shows, and also on all 15 Ramones albums. Also, his Mark-2 signature guitar went for $46,875, and a painting of him by Giovanni DeCunto brought $37,500.
Maqbool Husain painting, $43,750, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers
A dynamic Cubist horse painting by the Indian artist Maqbool Fida Husain sold for $43,750 in Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ online Estate Fine Art & Antique Auction held September 30 in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a 19th-century Chinese embroidered brought $25,000, a Caille Brothers Eclipse 25-cent slot machine hit $18,750; and a Tiffany Bleeding Heart table lamp realized $12,500.
Louis Marx toy motorcycle, $22,800, Milestone Auctions
A Louis Marx & Co. (USA) prototype tin windup Speedboy 4 military toy motorcycle with spring-loaded military cannon and ammo box sold for $22,800 at an Antique Toy auction held October 2 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a Lehmann (Germany) tin windup Boxer Rebellion toy, all original, went for $17,400; and a large and colorful German hand-painted composition cat skittles set garnered $16,200.
‘The American Atlas,’ $69,300, Freeman’s
A second edition of The American Atlas, widely considered the most important 18th-century atlas of America, sold for $69,300 at a Books and Manuscripts auction held September 23 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, a circa-1789 New Haven printing of the first acts of the first Congress of the United States went for $22,680; a first and limited-edition copy of James Joyce’s Ulysses achieved $27,720; and a first American edition copy of Moby-Dick garnered $16,380.
Andrew Clemens sand bottle, $956,000, Hindman
A late 1880s sand bottle by Andrew Clemens, who was known as “the deaf-mute sand artist from McGregor, Iowa”, sold for $956,000 at an American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts Auction held September 30 by Hindman in Chicago. It is the only Clemens sand bottle of the more than 100 documented examples to exhibit a portrait – it depicts Orrin “O.T.” Fuller of Savanna, Illinois at about the age of five. Also, a marble bust of Benjamin Franklin, possibly by Giuseppe Ceracchi, changed hands for $53,125.
Rolex Big Red Daytona, $125,000, Rago/Wright
An iconic Rolex Big Red Daytona Cosmograph stainless steel wristwatch sold for $125,000 at a Watches & Timepieces auction held October 20 by Rago/Wright in Lambertville, New Jersey. Also, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak model 5402 jumbo stainless-steel wristwatch achieved $106,250; a Patek Philippe World Time pink gold wristwatch changed hands (or wrists) for $27,500; and a Rolex Daytona Cosmograph wristwatch made $43,750.
John Wayne ‘True Grit’ revolver, $517,500, Rock Island
The revolver used by actor John Wayne in the movie True Grit sold for $517,500 at a Sporting & Collector Firearms Auction held Oct. 6-8 by Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island, Illinois. Also, an M2-2 flamethrower flambeed its high estimate, hitting $19,550, and a Civil War-era 1851 Colt Navy pistol with a shoulder stock changed hands for $17,250.
Gottlieb painting, $756,000, Doyle
A painting from 1965 by Adolph Gottlieb, titled A Heavy Matter, a prime example of the artist’s Burst series of paintings, sold for $756,000 at a 20th Century Abstraction auction held October 6 by Doyle in New York. Also, an untitled work from 1969 by Kenneth Noland realized $100,800; an untitled painting by Edward Clark made $81,900; and Hekt, a 1978 work by American artist Nancy Graves achieved $75,600.
LeBron James rookie card, $1.39 million, Goldin Auctions
A LeBron James Upper Deck Exquisite Rookie Patch autograph card, graded BGS NM-MT, sold for $1.39 million in an online Card & Memorabilia auction held in September by Goldin Auctions, based in Runnemede, New Jersey. Also, a 2000 Championship Ticket autograph Tom Brady signed rookie card rang up $799,500; a 1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan rookie card earned $344,400; and a 2016 Gold Prizm #2 Patrick Mahomes rookie card realized $198,030 – a record for the card.
Tiffany Dragonfly lamp, $150,000, Heritage Auctions
A circa-1910 Tiffany Studios leaded glass and patinated bronze Dragonfly table lamp, marked “Tiffany Studios” to the base and shade, sold for $150,000 at a Tiffany, Lalique & Art Glass auction held October 28 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a circa-1910 Tiffany Studios leaded glass and patinated bronze Oriental Poppy table lamp went for $118,750, and a circa-1910 Tiffany Studios leaded glass and patinated bronze Dogwood table lamp brought $93,750.
View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/